Apparatus for reshaping conduits



C. F. JONES APPARATUS FOR RESHAPING CONDUITS oct. 2o, 1959 2 Sheecs-Sheet 1 Filed July 26, 1954 Oct. 20, 1959 c. F. JONES vAPPARA'FUS FOR RESHAPING CONDUITS 2 sheets-sneet Filed July 26. 1954 m ATTORNEY INVENTOR. CHARLES F. JONES Vo: o

FIG. 7

United States Patent This invention relates generallyl to an apparatus for reshaping Ia conduit and more particularly to an apparatus whereinthe-conduit isinternally supported during the reshaping operation.

It is frequently required that conduit such as straight lengths of tube, pipe, etc., be reshaped by an operation such as bending to redirect the axial direction of ilow therein. The method of performing the reshaping operation varies dependent on the material utilized in the conduit construction. For conduits formed of thermoplastic heat-shapable materials, such as heat-softenable vinyl resins, polyethylene resins, glycol-polybasic acid resins, etc., that portion of the conduit whereat the reshaping operation is to be performed is customarilyV heated and the conduit reshaped while the material is in a deformable state. Conduits formed of ductile materials such as lead, copper, `and the like, generally do not require heating'and are deformable in fthe cold state.

However, in all the above materials, if the conduit is not internally supported, crimping at the bend, wall d is-` tortion, and other objectionable deformationsof the,

conduit occur.

The general object of this invention is to provide an` apparatus for reshaping conduit with a minimum amount of distortion due to the reshaping operation. A

A further object of thisV invention is to providean apparatus for avoiding distortions `attendant to conduit reshaping operations in a simple, efficient, and economical manner.

The aforesaid objects of the invention, and other ob-` In the drawings: Fig. V1- is a view showing tory to inserting the mesh length into a conduit;

Fig. 2 is across-sectional view showingrthe` construction of a mesh element; l

Fig. 3 is a view showing the mesh length partly in-V :serted into aconduit; Y 1 l Fig. 4 isa view showing the mesh length tinally posi-` v le assembly beingtioned in the conduit and the who heated;

Fig. 5 is a view showing the conduit at the nish of V-the reshapingoperation;

Fig. 6 is a view showing moved from the conduit; andn Fig. 7 is a view of a mesh formed of hat ribbons.

the mesh'length partly re- VVFig. 1 shows an internal supporting basket weave Y mesh 1 of resilient and exible construction Vpreferably formed of individual wires 2 which are small in diameter and may be of tempered steel, and which are placed side-by-side to form flat bands 3 as shown in Fig. 2.

The at bands 3 are preferably, in turn, braided in the interlaced pattern of Fig. l tov deiineythe cylindrical form of the mesh 1. At one end of themesh 1, the flat bands 3 are gathered into a lug plate 4 which has integral therewith Aan eye-bolt 5. The other end of the mesh 1 may be simply terminated to avoid unravelling, or as shown, a lug plate 6 with an integral eye-bolt 7 may be utilized. A tensioning element such as a cord Sis suitably fastened to the eye-bolt 5 and is of such length` as to pass entirely through and emerge to a workingV length from a conduit such as a cylindrical tube 9. The4 outside diameter of the mesh 1, in its relaxed state, is

preferably of a size greater than the inside diameter of theconduit 9. As will hereinafter become apparent, the" mesh 1. is constructed in such manner as to geometrically correspond to the tube 9; a circular tube demanding a l circular mesh, a rectangular tube demanding a rectangular jects which will become apparent as the descriptionpro-- i The mesh may be composed of interwoven or braided` lengths of wire, tape,` ribbon, etc., of a type possessing high inherent elasticity, such as tempered metal and the like which is longitudinally substantiallylincompressible; the whole defining a flexible resilient structure that is highly extensible when tension isV applied thereto. Under such tension the mesh length elongates with a corresponding decrease in bounded cross-sectionalu area. In 'the method of the invention, theV mesh length is `first elon-. gated by the application thereto of a lengthwise tension# ing force, then positioned within the conduit', and after which the tensioning force is released. .The resiliency of the mesh reacts and tendsfV to contract the mesh length to the original relaxed state; this reaction, however, being restrained by the conduit walls. The net result is that the mesh exerts an outward radial pressure upon the inner circumferential surface ofthe conduit and thereby supports, strengthens, `and reinforces the conduit during the subsequent reshaping operation, `preventing objectional deformations thereof. At 'the'conclusion of the reshapingoperation, the 'tensioning force is again applied and the mesh removed.

mesh, etc.

Due to the high pitch of the elements formingfthe basket weave mesh and the reduced diameter of the tool at the ends thereof, the reduction in diameter may be `accomplished by application of tension to one end only since the reaction resulting from engagement of the end of the conduit with the mesh will cause reduction in theV overall diameter of the helicalV elements with thefconsequent reduction in theloverall diameter of the mesh progressively as the 4tool is pulled through the conduit.

engaging the cord 8l is then brought into: contact with the end of the conduit 9 wherein entrance is to be made.'

As shown in Fig. l, the cord 8 is rst introduced into one end of the tube 9 and passed therethrough with a substantial length of the cord 8 emerging from the other end of the conduit 9. The end of the mesh length 1 A tensioning force is subsequently applied to the emergent end of the cord 8 and, -asshown'in Fig. 3, the interwoven construction of thevportion lofthe meshvlength 1 a under tension results in a ,change inangle. orientation be-A Athe overalldiarneter of the mesh memberv 1 when-the tween the interlaced bands 3 rwith a consequent elongation and in turn a resulting decrease in*V bounded cross,

sectional area of said Vmesh portion. Thus, as a'result of the constantly appliedy tensioning force'on 'the cord that'section of the conduit 9fwhereat the tion is to be performed.-

After the mesh length 1 is in a working position within, the conduit 9, the tensioning force acting on the cord 8 is released and the mesh length 1 resiliently. retracts, in length with a consequent increase, in overall diameter;

Due to the internal diameter of the'tube 9 beingcless' thanv Patented oct. 2,0, 1959 the preliminary step preparamember 1 is in a. relaxed. state thek internal surface of the tube 9 limits the diametral expansion of the mesh member 1; as a result the mesh member 1 exerts an outwardly radial force on the inner surface. ofi the tube 9, thereby acting in a'strengtheningy andi reinforcing manner. The small diameter wires 2 forming the bands 3- tend to closely approach the flat contact area of a ribbon or tape element, consequently tending to` distribute the above radial forces over a large area and thereby preclude any excessive pressure per unit area which might result in anembedding of the elements ofthe member 1 into the inner wall of the tube 9V during the reshaping operation. This embedding action is especially troublesome when heat is used to soften the tube 9 in preparation for reshaping, and internal support isbeing established throughY the usage of helical coil springs of relatively small wire diameter. The substantially line-contact between such coil springs and the tube wall results in a consequent high pressure per unit area therebetween, thus tending to embed the coils into the inner wall proper, creating considerable difficulty in removalk of the supporting member and forming a ridged and roughened inside surface thereby increasing the pressure drop therein under operating conditions.

As this invention does not reside in the details of the reshaping operation proper, only a diagrammatic representation of said operation is herein shown. For purposes of illustration and simplicity in continuity of description, the conduit 9 may be of a heateshapable material. By heat-shapable it is meant that upon the heating of the conduit 9 to some temperature above normal ambient, the conduit 9 can be plastically deformed byv the application thereto of a deforming force such as a bending moment. Consequently, in Fig. 4, heat in the form of banks of radiant heat sources 10, is applied uniformly to that portion of the tube 9 whereat the reshaping operation is to be performed. When the tube 9 has been sufficiently heated, the tube 9 is bent by a suitably applied force. Upon cooling, the tube 9 regains its normal rigidity and theV supporting member 1 can then be removed.

Removal of the supporting member 1 is accomplished as shown in Fig. 6 byvre-establishing the tensioning force acting on the cord 8, thereby lengtheningV the supporting member 1 in the manner previously described and permittingremoval of the member 1 from the tube 9. The member 1 can then be reused in similar manner for further reshaping operations. If a number of bends are to be made in a long tube length, the member 1 need, of course, not be removed, but simply moved from position to position until all the bends within the entire length are made, whereupon the member 1 is then totally removed from the tube length.

It will be obvious that in some situations a more desirable method of'removal can be had by a cord similar to the'cord 8 fastened to the eye-bolt 7 and utilized for removal of the member 1 from the same end of the tube 9 whereat entrance was effected. It will also be obvious that the use of the cord 8 and the resulting necessary emergence thereof of a working length of said cord 8 from the opposite extremity of the tube 9 can easily be dispensed with by the provision of other means of tensioning the member 1, as, for example, a flexible push-shaft extending throughout the length of the mesh 1 and suitably engaging one extremity thereof, can be utilized to insert and position the mesh length 1 within the conduit 9. The member 1 may alternatively be pre-tensioned by suitable means and after insertion thereof effected, such pre-tension be removed permitting the member 1 toexpand to the desired supporting relationships.- A further force may also be applied to the positioned member to place thereon'a compression force thus increasing the rigidity and radial outward pressure of the member 1 on the inner surface ofthe conduit 9.

Fig. 7 shows a constructional variation of the member 1 in that flat metal tape or ribbon 11 is utilized; being interlaced in similar manner Vto that of the bands 3 of Fig. 1. It will be obvious that not only can the bands 3 of Fig. 1 be replaced with the tapes 11 of Fig. 7, but also that other types of cross-sectional strips can be formed from a Wide range of materials and utilized in the method of the invention. The invention is also not limited to the particular type of interweaving of the preferred embodiment described herein; other typesV and patterns of networks attaining the result of the same resilient retractability as that inherentv inthe supporting mesh of the invention will be manifest to a competent craftsman.

In order to prevent or minimize the tendency of the wires to embed themselves in the heated tube material, the mesh may also be provided with an expansible cover member ywhich would bridge the spaces between the wires.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art thatA other various changes and modifications may be, made therein without departing from the spiritl or scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

l. A tool for supporting the wall of a conduit while a reshaping operation is performedy thereon comprising an elongated member formed of a resilient extensible and flexible mesh constructed of a multiplicity of closely spaced elongated elastic elements of longitudinally substantially incompressible material interwoven in a basket weave in which said elastic elements are in opposed high pitch helical arrangement with the mesh having a relaxed size at least as great as the internal diameter of the conduit to be shaped whereby upon application of axial tension to the member to elongate the member the pitches of the elements are increased with consequent reduction in diameter ofthe member and relaxation of the tension permits the elements to return toward normal relaxed diameter due to the inherent elasticity thereof to thereby engage and support the wall of said conduit when said tool is arranged therein, the pitch of said helical elements being such as to resist reduction in diameter of said mesh and consequent elongation thereof due to radial pressure exerted thereon while said conduit is being reshaped, and means connected to the ends of the elements for use in the application of axial tension to said elements to reduce the overall diameter of said member in a radial direction to facilitate the insertion of said member in said conduit.

2. A tool as set forth in claim 1 in which said elongated elastic elements comprise flat bands having their greatest widthgenerally parallel, to the circumference of said mesh.

3. A tool` as claimed in claim 2, in which said flat bands each comprise a plurality of parallel filaments.

4. A tool as set forth in claim 1' in which said elements near their extremities are drawn radially inward to a smaller diameter than the conduit at' their point of connection to said means to form end portions of gradually reduced diameters progressivelyA toward the ends for facilitating initial insertion of the end of said tool into said conduit.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 423,544 Vanderman' Mar. 18, 1890 11,521,789 Oswald Jan. 6, 1925 1,880,053l Schur et alr Sept. 27, 1932 1,945,195 Kellems. l Ian. 30, 1934 1,949,650 Lindas Mar. 6, 1934 2,491,589V Slaughter Dec. 20, 1949 2,663,904 Slaughter Dec. 29 1.953, 2,685,118 Hunter Aug. 3, 1954 

